archives: Makeup
I don’t really wear foundation. I don’t because I have crazy dry skin, and every single foundation makes it look ten times worse. And yes, I’ve tried that one. And that one. Believe me when I say I’ve tried them all.
BUT. I’m still a sucker for a gimmick.
L'Oreal True Match Roller Foundation
And I don’t know why I fell for this one. For one, I HATE PAINTING. Like, with A VENGEANCE. Hate it with the fire of a thousand suns. If it came down to having to paint my house or be evicted, I may seriously check into the shelters around town because THAT’S HOW MUCH I HATE PAINTING.
Why did I think it’d be more fun on my face?!
Okay, now, the foundation itself? Meh, at best. It’s heavy, but it covers okay if you’re looking for coverage.
But the application?
So you know WHY I hate painting? It’s because no matter how many times you go in that stupid W formation on the walls, you still get streaks. SURPRISE, that happens on your face too. So the whole concept of it keeping foundation from your fingers is pretty much null and void because you end up having to blend it anyway.
My advice? Skip this one. You’ll save yourself the $14.95 and the frustration of feeling like an inadequate painter.
L’Oreal True Match Roller Foundation, $14.95 at Drugstore.com
Sarah can be found giving us giggles at The Anvil Tree and snarking at MamaPop.
I have a fairly basic make-up routine and very rarely branch out beyond my traditional five items while getting ready in the morning. And since I rely so heavily on my beauty basics, I’m pretty picky when it comes to making sure I’m using stuff that I like and makes me feel good. My routine includes: foundation, mascara, eyeliner, blush and powder. Toss on a little gloss and BAM! I’m out the door. Ever since I started using powder I have gone the way of translucent as opposed to a “bronze” or a “honey” simply because I am not good at blending. Like, at ALL. And if the rest of my body is not classified as a color found in a travel brochure, then my face will be sporting a powder used for smoothing and not color enhancement. Trust me, it’s better this way.
I have been very fond of pressed powder and have only branched out in the loose powder territory because my mom bought me some for my birthday. I was, well how do I put this? I was SCARED okay? What about the mess? What if I sneeze and it all poofs away? What if I get too much on the brush? WILL MY FACE THEN DISAPPEAR INTO A TRANSLUCENT VORTEX? So many questions!
I hate messes and I hate waste so I was really questioning how I’d feel about this product. Yes, some will get on your hand or on the sink but if you’re diligent you can minimize the spills. Just don’t go on a weekend drinking binge and go to put your make-up on the next morning with a bad case of The Shakes and you’ll be good.
Here is a little snipped from Maybelline’s website:
Mineral Power Translucent Loose Powder with micro-minerals provides the finishing touch that perfects and sets makeup for flawless, healthy-looking skin.
- Natural, luminous finish
- Won’t clog pores
- Contains 0% oil, 0% talc, 0% preservatives and 0% fragrance
For Best Results
Use the 100% natural kabuki brush included with the Translucent Loose Powder.
Dip it: Dip brush into cap
Tap it: Tap brush to remove excess
Apply it: Apply to face using circular motion
It’s KEY to tap the brush on the side of the container–this knocks off any excess and helps the powder go on evenly while also reducing plumes of make-up wafting through your bathroom. The first time I tried this application it took forever because I was so overly cautious about not wasting any. My husband kept hearing “clack-clack-clack. . .clack-clack-clack. . .clack-clack-clack” like I was some sort of mini bathroom orchestra conductor. But since then I’ve done it a few more times and have found my groove.
I love the brush. It’s soft and firm without being too whisker-y. It’s all natural and the application is flawless with the circular motion application–you just can’t get the same results with a puff and pressed powder. I was also pleased to note that my face didn’t get nearly as shiney throughout the day as with my other make-up. The difference is night and day. I had smooth coverage which is what I wanted. WIN! Also, since I’m not a huge fan of break-outs I love that my skin can breathe as this is a natural mineral-based powder free of gunk. DOUBLE WIN!
The downsides, which wouldn’t deter me from purchasing this again, are the loose powder mess potential and the fact that the brush is not attached to the container. This makes me worry about throwing it in my make-up bag and the brush getting dirty. So I think I’d just use this at home in the morning, and apply touch-ups (though not many are needed, seriously) with the pressed powder throughout the day.
What powder do you stand by and recommend whenever you get the chance? Are you a pressed powder or a loose kind of girl? (OH STOP!)
Maybelline Mineral Power Finishing Veil Translucent Loose Powder, around $12.00 at local drugstores.
I was lamenting about my quest to find the perfect drugstore mascara as I’m sick of being a slave to my department store brand. So spendy! And a pain to acquire! Little did I know that women love to chat it up about their tried-and-true brand and give detail upon emphatic detail as to why it’s The Best. It was really helpful and made it easier to narrow down what to look for on my next trip to Target so Katie and Kori and I figured we’d have a mascara round up. Our opinions: let me show you them.
From Sam: Clinique High Impact Mascara, $14.00 at Clinique.com
I can’t help it, I LOVE this stuff. It makes my eyes stand out with bold color and fullness (without having Hooker Eyes, natch) and minimal clumping. Others I’ve tried were either too thin or the brush drove me batty. I hate those cheaply made mascaras that flake off in the middle of the day so it looks like you work part-time as a chimney sweep over your lunch break. This formula washes off well, and by ‘well’ I mean with a baby wipe as I pass out on the couch without having first washed my face. It also has never irritated my eyes and I’m a contact lens wearer so it’s a HUGE requirement and AND sometimes there are free samples in their bonus gift bags. You see what they’re doing there right? Giving me free tastes to fuel the addiction. BECAUSE THEY KNOW I’LL KEEP CRAWLING BACK!
From Katie: Maybelline Full ‘n Soft Waterproof Mascara, $6.59 at drugstore.com
For years, my favorite mascara has been one I selected entirely at
random several years ago off a Walgreens shelf. Maybelline Full n’
Soft waterproof formula in brownish black makes your lashes long long long and darker without adding too much gunk or drama for daytime. It adds definition without being too…much. It truly is waterproof, my lashes feel soft not crunchy, and it doesn’t fleck off and leave me looking racoony by the end of the day- and I touch my eyes a LOT. I’ve tried several other mascaras, many of them a lot more expensive, but I always return to this old standby.
From Kori and Amy: Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto Mascara, $7.99 at drugstore.com
K: Not to put too fine a point on it, but I demand perfection from my mascara. For years I mourned the discontinuation of Maybelline’s Sky High Curves. The creme de la creme of curling mascaras, I finally had to accept that it might be time to move on. Just recently I have found a mascara that is pretty darn good: Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto Mascara (you know, the one in the ad that looks like the heel of a shoe). Lash Stiletto does a great job of holding the curl from an eyelash curler; really, really lengthens lashes; doesn’t flake off throughout the day; employs a fairly good brush/applicator; and the waterproof mascara generally comes off with a bit of makeup remover. The biggest con is that you might need an eyelash comb to really separate lashes and get the best look, but I’m okay with this extra step. Overall, I really recommend.
Max Factor Extreme Calorie was always my go-to mascara. It perfectly plumped up and highlighted my lashes without any of the goopy mess I associate with other mascaras. I never cheated on this mascara until they stopped carrying it in the Ultas, Walgreens and CVS stores in my area. I spent years trying out other over-the-counter mascaras, but constantly checked store aisles to see if they began carrying Max Factor again. They never did, but I got savvy and looked online. I’ve been reunited with my mascara and I couldn’t be happier!
From Sarah: Rimmel London Sexy Curves Mascara, $7.49 at Sears.com
I’m a compulsive eyelash curler (in fact, I actually put my curler under a blowdryer for 15 seconds to get it warm before I curl and the curl lasts ALL DAY), and this mascara not only accentuates the curl, but it washes cleanly off and comes in great colors. LOVE.
From Allyson and Jen: Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara, $6.99 at Drugstore.com
A: I had a favorite for YEARS and I haven’t been able to find it in a while. And naturally, the name escapes me at the moment. But I use this one and dig the long brush.
J: I usually switch mascaras every time I buy it, but I just bought this one twice in a row. That says something, right? I usually blow on the wand for a few seconds to let it dry a bit before applying (sounds weird, I know) but it keeps it from clumping and it goes on great. And it never smudges!
And there you have it! What is YOUR favorite mascara and why? We obviously love talking about this stuff so please share.
(The lovely Jen from Jayesel! Take it away!)
I’ve always struggled with my skin. I’ve never had acne so bad I needed professional intervention, but I do have large pores and a pretty uneven skintone, plus the occasional nasty breakout (thanks, PMS!) My skin was never going to be perfect peaches-and-cream, so I knew I’d have to fake it with makeup. And once I started wearing makeup in junior high, I was on a mission to find the Perfect Foundation.
I tried regular foundation in a glass bottle. I tried the weird powder-to-liquid foundations. I tried going with no foundation, just loose or pressed powder. I either ended up with goopy, heavy coverage that felt like I was wearing butter on my face, or I had too little coverage that still showed the unevenness of my skin.
Boo.
I never really settled on a foundation that would ‘work’ for more than a couple of months… either my skin changed, or I grew tired of fooling myself into thinking whatever I was using was working. Basically, whenever the Product Of The Month ran out, I didn’t love it enough to purchase it again. I was on a never-ending carousel of foundations. It wasn’t very fun. And it got kinda expensive.
Then, about 4 years ago, my sister hosted a Mary Kay party for her mother-in-law who had just started selling the stuff. I knew a little bit about Mary Kay but I had never been a User (ha, sounds so illicit!) We had a great time at the party, and after trying it out during the ‘makeover’ portion of the party, I decided to give the Medium Coverage Foundation a shot.
Four years later, I’m still loving it. And this coming from the girl who changed foundation every other month for 15 years? Is a big deal.
It’s the perfect weight for my skin- not too heavy, and it rarely feels greasy and heavy (a little bit in the summer when it’s hot, but I think that’s more because OMG HUMIDITY than anything with the product. I just use a bit less in the warmer weather.) For my weird skin, the coverage is perfect. It’s easy to blend, and it hides just about everything but feels very non-gross (technical term!). I love that I can put it on in the morning, pair it with some concealer for any major blemishes, and just touch-up with powder throughout the day. They also have a ton of shades to choose from, and if you have a local Mary Kay rep, you can easily try a few to find that perfect match.
I have received several compliments on my skin in the past few years since I started using the Mary Kay foundation, and part of me finds that HILARIOUS, looking back on all the years I spend struggling to find something that worked.
And probably the best part is that it’s only $14 a tube and it lasts a LONG time. I think one tube can last me at least 6 months (though I don’t wear make up every single day, maybe 4 or 5 days a week, typically) So for a product that works so perfectly for me and costs so little in the grand scheme of things? I SAY SCORE.
Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation, $14.00 at MaryKay.com
Using Random.org, the winner of a $20.00 gift certificate to Beauty.com is…
Kristin C.
Congratulations!
I would, however, like to give mention to some of the hi-larious, blush-inducing stories from the entrants. Some of my favorites:
“The last time I blushed would have been when we were at a restaurant with my mom and son Eli, just as the waitress arrived for our order, announced loudly and gleefully, “I FART!” And then he just kept saying it…”
“…after I fell to the ground in my patient’s room when my back gave out causing me to crash to the floor and begin to cry. It was super embarrassing.”
“While taking the escalator to work one day, a lady behind me was admiring my skirt. Then, I realized the back zipper was down and you could see my patootie.”
“The last time I blushed we were outside and I am carrying my fitting toddler over my shoulder he then pulled up my shirt.”
Thanks for sharing!
Despite some sort of genetic anomaly that allows me to tan June through August, I’m really pretty darn fair. Pasty, if you will. Because of this lack of pigment I turn to blush to help others tell me apart from the Undead.
I have four different blushes in my makeup bag. Depending on the weather (cold? humid?), the condition of my skin (dry with a dodgy patch? too oily?) and the time I have available (weekend morning rush? weekday morning parenting tag time?)–I choose my poison.
The items in my stock:
Almay Smart Shade Blush in Berry.
Cost? Approximately $8.00
This the only product from the Smart Shade line that I’ve tried and it’s a blush I’m relatively happy with. A dab of color on the finger tip rubbed into the apples of my cheeks and the cheekbone create a natural looking color.
Pros: It blends easily, lasts throughout the day and doesn’t cause break-outs.
Cons: Once it hits the skin–despite the appearance that a little goes a long way, the color isn’t very intense so I end up using a tidgy bit of powder blush over it.
Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Soft Plum.
Cost? approximately $7.00
I’ve kept this one around but just this morning thought about tossing it. I used it for awhile since I was interested in the mousse consistency. It’s interesting. Given that it’s a mousse, it goes on fairly light and airy and kind of whipped; like that Yoplait Whips yogurt.
Pros: I like that the packaging is a nice, glass pot and that applying the mousse blush is fairly dummy proof.
Cons: The color was minimal and I was using the Soft Plum color. It also didn’t seem to hold up throughout the day and by 8:00pm, I looked washed out.
N.Y.C. Cheek Glow Single Pan Blush in Outside Cafe.
Cost? approximately $2.00
I’ve reviewed N.Y.C. lipsticks in the past and the blush is equally fabulous. Since it’s a powder, it’s easy to slap on if I’m in a hurry or need a quick pick me up. I tend to use a powder blush if it’s going to be a particularly humid day since my skin is fairly oily (even the cheeks) and wearing a liquid blush tends to add to the slippery factor.
Pros: Sooo cheap, quite a bit available given the price, stays on throughout the day
Cons: I can tell it’s not as heavily pigmented as another powder blush I have from the department store, but at a 1/5 of the price–I don’t consider this a major beef.
Stila Gel Cheek Color in Cherry Flush.
Cost? approximately $16.00
This is my absolute favorite. The color comes out of the tube like a gel which is a bit different and blends, I feel, the best of all the consistencies. Concentrated in color but wears uber sheer.
Pros: The color is sheer, long-lasting and provides the perfect pinch of pinky redness; the small tube lasts forever
Cons: At just over the $15.00 mark, it’s a bit of a splurge. Plus it’s becoming harder to find, so my assumption is that Stila is no longer making it but instead replaced it with this. Another pen!
So that you can find the blush that’s just right for you, Live Well Spend Well will send one winner a $20.00 electronic gift certificate to be used at Beauty.com.
To enter, leave a comment sharing the last time YOU blushed. Funny, embarrassing, blush-inducing stories are welcome.
If you refer others here and they tell us their story and that you sent them (“Amy sent me!”), both you and the person you referred will receive a BONUS entry.
You can also receive extra entries by following us on Twitter (@livespend) and by mentioning this contest by saying, “What made you blush? Giveaway @livespend (insert link to post) pls RT.” Comment back with a link to your tweet and consider that extra entry yours.
Giveaway will run until Friday, October 16 11:59pm EST. For full information on how giveaways are conducted, please see the Disclosure Policy.
In what seems to be turning into a trend involving makeup products in pen form, this week I’m reviewing the lipstain pen from CoverGirl.
I’ve been eyeballing this product for awhile and decided to take the plunge this week.
I really, really waffled on the color. Stain colors typically look deeper hue in the packaging, but wear more sheer. And, of course, it was absolutely ridiculous to try and use the little colored bits of paper near each pen to try and decide which one would look best on me. I was wary of anything too pink or anything too brown and decided on #425 Plum Pout.
The pen looks a lot like a marker: cap, felt tip, round mid-size barrel. After peeling off the plastic business, I whipped off the cap and kind of marvelled at how the cap was designed. Within the cap itself is a smallish dome that keeps the brush and its bristly-pen like top neatly contained and separate from the rest of the cap. I think this showed some thought in how to maintain the pen and the color.
I then touched the pen to see if color was already on it or, if like the OPI nail polish pen, I’d have to twist/crank/push something. Nope. The color is already saturated into the pen; again, like a marker.
Because of the lipstain’s pen-like design, you shouldn’t need a lip liner. It’s firm, relatively sharp tip allowed me to draw the outline and then fill it in with color with very little mess and “drawing outside the lines.” This is a plus because as much as I love lip liner (and some lip products actually require it), it can be kind of a pain to tote around.
The color. Weeelll. It’s kind of bright. It’s less plum (as pictured here on the drugstore.com website and also what the little paper swatch in the store advertised)…
…and more of a bright fuchsia. A little loud for me. Just now I realized that the color on my lips is pretty much the same color as the tube/package. Not sure if this is a fluke and applies to the other shades, but it may.
After absorbing the “HEY! LOOK AT MY LIPS!”-type of color, I pressed my lips together to see if it blended or smoothed out. Some stains are trick-kay in that where you put it–there it stays. I relined some areas and filled in others, pressed my lips together and things blended fairly well.
On the CoverGirl website they say that the color doesn’t have “the heavy look or feel of an ordinary lipstick” and I’d have to agree. I know I have color on my lips but there is nothing sticky, gooey, coated, lined or balmed about them. Just lips. I like this a lot because it means that I won’t feel compelled to lick or wipe or reapply what I’ve already put on (the look of chewed off lipstick is one my appearence neuroses).
As for the lipstain’s wearability, while wearing it I have finished a bottle of water, eaten a mini Snickers, attended a meeting where I had to actually contribute, talked on the phone and eaten a second mini Snickers. While my lips are slightly pinker than they would be normally, there is nothing remaining of what I applied a mere two hours ago. This contradicts the product’s claim that the “…color won’t come off, lasting for hours…” But what lip color doesn’t promise this?
Bottomline: Even though it lasts about as long as most average lip colors, it comes in a handy pen-like style and is very easy to apply. I recommend.
CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain Lip Color, prices ranging from $7.50-$8.00, available at most major retailers.
For the first of the “Power to the People” reviews, I went with Bridget’s suggestion and tried one of the nail polish pens.
I’ve seen these at Target and wondered what their story was. I am, however, kind of a lazy weasel and don’t often do my own nails at home. But since I am between pedicures and I’d removed the color earlier in the week (read as: toes unacceptable to show as-is but am too busy to make an appointment), I thought this was a perfect time to try out a nail polish pen. Also, I had a doctor’s appointment that involved stirrups and I did not feel comfortable having nudie toes all out and whatnot.
Anyway, so while in Target I picked up one of the pens, specifically Nic’s Sticks by OPI. I decided on what I’d hoped what a sheer pink color (“Feeling Girly,” I believe) but was a little peeved because I was only allowed a smidgeon of area on the actual pen to tell what color is truly inside. The rest of the container is all packaging. And while the package designers may have intended for the colored label to be the indicator for what lies inside, we ALL know that colored paper is not the same as the color delivered. Anyone who’s tried to shop for lipstick by those little 1/4″ x 1/4″ color swatches near the tubes of lipstick knows this. Pfft.
-1 point for not really being able to what color you’re purchasing.
Later that morning after taking my shower and trying to figure what I was going to stuff my pregnant can into for work, I decided to take a breather, crack out the pen and see what’s what.
I struggled with removing the clear protective layer, but that’s par for the course. After I had it open, I saw the the brush was white and not yet saturated with polish. So how do I get the polish from the tube to the brush?
I tried turning it like I would some of the lip gloss pens I have. No dice. The bottom of the pen seemed “depress-able” so I pushed on it a bit. Nothing happened.
So similar to when the elevator doesn’t arrive right away, I just kept pushing to see if something would happen. After probably appearing a little manic in my pen clicking, polish did eventually start to slooowwwly reach the brush bristles.
-1 point for the absence of instructions.
Okay, so polish is on brush–toes are ready–and paint.
The color went on kind of globby (I did roll the pen between by hands to warm it up just in case it had been on the shelf awhile) so when I tried to even it out by running the brush over it again–it turned even globbier! And smeared!
-1 point for odd color distribution with brand new polish
Also, I should point out that the brush is fairly bushy. On a standard nail polish brush, the brush is long and kind of narrow–making it easier to hit the nooks and crannies of those smaller nails (especially if crouched trying to see what’s what over a pregnant belly. Just sayin’.). The Nic’s Stick brush is shorter, wider and bushier. Kind of like the Crayola crayons for kids just learning to color. Because of this I found myself using nail polish remover to clean up from where I painted outside the lines.
-1 for bushy brush.
I wanted to even out the first coat that went on globby and thick, and, well the second coat just looked like a hot mess. In the end, I removed all of the nail polish and headed to my doctor’s appointment with nudie toes.
Bottomline: I don’t recommend.
Nic’s Sticks by OPI, $7.00, available at most major retailers
For those of you heavy sighing that I am reviewing Wet ‘n’ Wild…well folks, just hear me out.
I know this brand may hold memories of junior high or high school for you, but as an adult woman–don’t discount it.
One: Their product line is so ridiculously cheap, it’s nutty. A $1.49, people!
Two: Their eyeliner, particularly this eyeliner, holds up over the course of the day without fading into oblivion.
Three: If it’s a bust, you didn’t even spend six quarters.
Other reasons: the eyeliner is smooth and doesn’t pull on the eye, it lasts forever (since beginning to wear this brand of eyeliner over 12 years ago, I’ve only ever owned two pencils), is easy to sharpen and can be purchased pretty much anywhere.
But here’s the skinny on the white eyeliner …I love it. My eyes look less perky without it.
In the course of using it, I did learn that there is a margin of error when applying white eyeliner.
Applied too thick? Ugh.
Applied too thin and it is simply unnoticeable.
You know you’ve got it just right when your eyes look brighter and you have to leeeaaannn into the mirror to tell that it’s because of the eyeliner.
White eyeliner can be applied in a number of areas near the eye. For everyday, I line my upper lid close to and fully across the lash line. I have learned this: it’s brighter going on and bit thicker than one would think is going to look good, but then it is conveniently smudged and muted by the eyelash curler when I’m curling my eyelashes.
If I’m going out all fancy-like (and you can tell it’s been awhile by how I just phrased that), I will use the white liner on the inside corners of my eyes and smudge it a little to highlight the shape of the eye and make it look larger and brighter.
(*cough* Not me. Just in case you were wondering.)
Lastly, you can also rim the inside of your lower lash line to make the whites of your eyes appear brighter. I don’t personally go there myself only because it seems to wear off fairly quickly plus I’m a contact lens wearer. Oh, and it kind of heebs me out to put makeup in my eye. But I appreciate the look on others and think it works.
Also, I think using white eyeliner works with a variety of hair and skin colors. In doing a Google Images search online to verify this, it seems to be compatible on those with very fair skin, those with dark skin, those with light hair and those with dark hair. I have very fair skin and dark brown hair. So even with my Whitey Ford face, it doesn’t look like I’m drawing chalk on a white board.
So, here’s the thing—give the white eyeliner a try. With a tidgy bit of practice, you won’t be disappointed. But if you do decide that it’s a bust, well, you only spent $1.49 on it.
Bottomline: I recommend both the product and the concept.
Wet ‘n’ Wild Kohl Eyeliner in White, $1.49, available at most discount retailers.
I have fallen in to a deep crevasse of the makeup rut-variety. I am wearing the same face (concealer, powder, gel cheek color, eyebrow pencil, white eyeliner, mascara, lip color) day in and day out. I am getting bored with my face and need something new to sport. Even the bevy of lip glosses, lipsticks and lip what-nots I have in my bag are not doing much for this slump.
No doubt that part of this rut is due to pretty much wanting to do anything else besides put makeup on in the morning. I smoke through my morning routine and I’ve already thrown a wrench in system by deciding to grow out my hair (and this involves a hairdryer, potions and a flat iron).
While mulling over the face-rut one night in bed (approximately .006 seconds before I passed out drooling), a thought came to me:
Why don’t I try out new products that Live Well readers are interested in but don’t want to spend money on?
I figure it’s win-win for everyone! I get to try new stuff, write new stuff, perhaps get a new look. You get to suggest new stuff and read new stuff without spending a dime.
I already have two items that I am going to give a whirl, and they are:
CoverGirl Exact Eyelights Mascara
Revlon Creme Gloss
But that’s just two.
To provide a suggestion on what you’d like me to test run, document with photos and review (plus even giveaway?), leave a comment that provides the company/product name. Since I primarily write about makeup-y type things, that will be the stuff I’m looking for.
Remember in the spirit of Live Well Spend Well, items under $15 are preferred.
Submit away!
